Three-time defending champions Manchester City could have both Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero back available in time for Sunday's EFL Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley.
The star duo returned to training this week and should be in contention to feature in some capacity, although whether Pep Guardiola opts to use them from the start is a different matter.
De Bruyne twisted his ankle against Chelsea in last weekend's FA Cup semi-final and, while the injury is less serious than first feared, the Belgian is unlikely to be risked with a Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain to come next week.
Guardiola openly admitted in his pre-match press conference that his side's upcoming games in the Champions League and Premier League are "more important" than Sunday's final, suggesting that he will not take any risks with his main man.
Aguero has struggled with injuries throughout his final season at the club and may have to settle for a place on the bench at best in Sunday's match.
John Stones will definitely miss out as he serves the first of a three-match ban following his red card against Aston Villa last time out.
Aymeric Laporte is likely to come in for Stones, while Nathan Ake provides an alternative option, and Guardiola's admission regarding his priorities for the season suggests that more changes are likely.
Zack Steffen will start in goal ahead of Ederson, while the likes of Fernandinho, Ferran Torres, Joao Cancelo and Benjamin Mendy will be hopeful of a starting role too.
Raheem Sterling appears to have fallen out of favour in recent weeks, although that could enable him to play in this final with the increasingly-influential Phil Foden being kept back for the Champions League tie in midweek.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Steffen; Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Mendy; Silva, Fernandinho, Gundogan; Mahrez, Torres, Sterling
> Click here to see how Tottenham could line up for this contest
No Data Analysis info
